New M2 with old oil

Badman327 · 03-08-2019, 07:35 PM

Hello everyone. I am a new forum member and the new owner of a 2018 M2. I was sad to move on from my 2012 M3, but so far very happy with my purchase.

I purchased my M2 from a dealer in Chicago last month. I live in Austin and the car was shipped to me with 48 miles. A service message was waiting for me the first time I started the car. The service message indicated that the car needed an oil change immediately and the break in service would be required at 1,200 miles. The oil change was needed because the oil was more than 12 months old. I checked the build date on the door sill and the car was built in October 2017. It obviously sat on the dealer lot for a long long time!

I brought the vehicle with 200 miles to a local BMW dealer and they told me car needed its 1,200 mile break in service which they performed without charge. They also told me that by performing this break-in service now, the computer would be reset so that the next service would be in 12 months or 10,000 miles. They said I am not able to have BMW perform another oil change (without charge) at 1,200 miles as required by the manual.

The Chicago BMW dealer should have shipped this vehicle to me with fresh oil. But that issue aside...shouldn't BMW owe me another oil change at 1,200 miles as the manual suggests?

Please let me know your thoughts.

GasBurnlife(landapanda) · 03-08-2019, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badman327

Hello everyone. I am a new forum member and the new owner of a 2018 M2. I was sad to move on from my 2012 M3, but so far very happy with my purchase.

I purchased my M2 from a dealer in Chicago last month. I live in Austin and the car was shipped to me with 48 miles. A service message was waiting for me the first time I started the car. The service message indicated that the car needed an oil change immediately and the break in service would be required at 1,200 miles. The oil change was needed because the oil was more than 12 months old. I checked the build date on the door sill and the car was built in October 2017. It obviously sat on the dealer lot for a long long time!

I brought the vehicle with 200 miles to a local BMW dealer and they told me car needed its 1,200 mile break in service which they performed without charge. They also told me that by performing this break-in service now, the computer would be reset so that the next service would be in 12 months or 10,000 miles. They said I am not able to have BMW perform another oil change (without charge) at 1,200 miles as required by the manual.

The Chicago BMW dealer should have shipped this vehicle to me with fresh oil. But that issue aside...shouldn't BMW owe me another oil change at 1,200 miles as the manual suggests?

Please let me know your thoughts.

I'd say it's worth a discussion with their tech dept if the computer says its time for an oil change.

DanG · 03-08-2019, 09:41 PM

What does the M2 say at startup? The differential oil change is done with the 1200 mile service. Have they already done that? If not, you will need the 1200 mile service.

ForniteFever_01 · 03-08-2019, 11:44 PM

I had the same exact issue with mine. I had the oil change done and they did the 1,200 mile service as well. They also said that all I had to do from that moment on is follow the recommended service intervals. Car has under 200 miles if that matters.

M2C89 · 03-09-2019, 07:07 AM

Seems odd to me they would do the break-in service when the car hasn't been broken in. I feel like there's a reason all of those fluids need to be changed out after the first 1,200 miles. Doing it early defeats that purpose. I would've insisted they perform only a routine oil change (paid out of pocket if I had to) and wait to do the break in service at the prescribed mileage. Now that you're in this position, I would probably perform it again and would try to get a discount on it, but ultimately I wouldn't have piece of mind if it wasn't performed so id pay out of pocket if it came to it.

M Fifty · 03-09-2019, 07:55 AM

Do they get paid by BMW to do the service if it's 'free'?

N54 · 03-09-2019, 08:09 AM

Doesn’t the car come with “run in oil” that is different which allows the engine to bed in during run in period?
I’d be having a chat with bmw technical to ensure that putting in normal oil early doesn’t cause a problem

doug_999 · 03-09-2019, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N54

Doesn't the car come with "run in oil" that is different which allows the engine to bed in during run in period?
I'd be having a chat with bmw technical to ensure that putting in normal oil early doesn't cause a problem

I don't think that has ever been proven. I'm pretty sure that other companies like Honda do and they specify it in their manual. If BMW did do this I think that 1) they would tell you not to change it early and 2) they would not do a 1,200 mile oil change (too early for break in oil - at least per Honda).

Alas from what I've read 200 miles is a good time to change it as lots of crap happens by then.

Badman327 · 03-09-2019, 10:59 AM

Since the computer maintenance schedule was reset, the car indicates the next service is in 12 months or 10K miles.

At 200 miles, the complete break-in service was performed including the engine oil and diff fluid.

I have the same concern as expressed above. I suspect most of the break-in happens between 0-200 miles, but things happen within the engine from 200 to 1,200 miles. It might be conservative to change at least the engine oil again at 1,200 miles, but if it is completely unnecessary, I want to avoid the minor cost and inconvenience.

nioh_lbbm2 · 03-09-2019, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badman327

Since the computer maintenance schedule was reset, the car indicates the next service is in 12 months or 10K miles.

At 200 miles, the complete break-in service was performed including the engine oil and diff fluid.

I have the same concern as expressed above. I suspect most of the break-in happens between 0-200 miles, but things happen within the engine from 200 to 1,200 miles. It might be conservative to change at least the engine oil again at 1,200 miles, but if it is completely unnecessary, I want to avoid the minor cost and inconvenience.

The diff needs the 1200 mile fluid change more so than the engine. I'd suggest you change that out at 1200

Ggeezer · 03-09-2019, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enzo41196

I had the same exact issue with mine. I had the oil change done and they did the 1,200 mile service as well. They also said that all I had to do from that moment on is follow the recommended service intervals. Car has under 200 miles if that matters.

Was the 1,200 mile service done at the same time or did you go back when you hit 1,200 miles?

ForniteFever_01 · 03-09-2019, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ggeezer

Was the 1,200 mile service done at the same time or did you go back when you hit 1,200 miles?

They did everything at once. Unusual, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Plan is to do oil changes at 5,000 mile intervals from here on out.

Pyrat 2 · 03-09-2019, 08:54 PM

What Chicago dealer sold it to you? Curious.

ForniteFever_01 · 03-09-2019, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrat 2

What Chicago dealer sold it to you? Curious.

BMW of Bloomington. Bought car out-of-state though so service wasn't done by them.

Badman327 · 03-10-2019, 08:57 PM

My car was purchased from Zeigler BMW in Chicago. Seems like they were stuck with the car for along time and the demand for a RWD car in February is non-existent in Chicago. M2's have never stayed on the dealer lots very long at any of the big city Texas BMW dealers and discounts from MSRP don't seem to be available until recently.

akkando · 03-11-2019, 02:24 AM

I would get the diff fluids changed at 1200 miles. Might as well do oil as well.

You'll forget about the cost later, trust me.

LuvMyE92 · 03-11-2019, 06:28 AM

Another vote here for a engine oil and differential oil change at 1200 miles, especially if you plan to keep the car for a long time. Cheap insurance. If you do sell the car to an enthusiast (and those are usually the kind of people who buy these things) then they will appreciate your extra attention to detail and proper maintenance.

The M cars are the only ones that have this 1200 mile break-in service, so BMW must think that it's important. I know the older cars (80s) all had different "break-in" fluids that were all changed (at the owner's cost) early. I guess people protested the expense (at the cost of a shorter component life) so BMW stopped requiring it.

Congrats to the OP for his purchase! Pictures are mandatory.

EuroDude · 03-17-2019, 11:11 AM

I would do the engine oil only, on my dime now (since it's been in there for over a year). At 1,400 or 1,500 I'd have the oil and diff done.

doug_999 · 03-17-2019, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

The M cars are the only ones that have this 1200 mile break-in service, so BMW must think that it's important. I know the older cars (80s) all had different "break-in" fluids that were all changed (at the owner's cost) early.

Fun fact - all BMWs used to have this service and at least in the 90s and early 2000s I am pretty sure it was covered by BMW - even when they didn't have free maint.

OP - it is my belief that the 1,200 miles is not some magical number, it is a balance between getting the job done and not annoying the customer with a return trip to the dealer too soon.

So I bet the 200 miles is probably enough for the diff to shred most of its metal. BUT, if you want to have some fun, have it done again at your own expense and order an analysis kit from blackstone-labs.com and have the diff fluid analyzed then - I bet it is fine. Of note, I had my manual trans fluid changed at 5,400 miles and they reported it was just fine and not full of metal (I suspect the tollarances these days mean we get a lot less metal in the fluid these days.)

ForniteFever_01 · 03-18-2019, 11:25 AM

Talked to the service manager and technicians at the BMW where I got my car serviced. They said there aren't any disadvantages to getting the car's break-in service earlier than 1,200 miles IF the time between production and when the car is brought in is long enough for things in the diff to settle in.

That being said, they offered to re-do my diff fluids once I hit 1,200 miles. I plan on doing it just for the peace of mind. For what it's worth, car was produced early in 2018, sat at the dealership until Feb. 2019, and now has around 200 miles.

M2C89 · 03-18-2019, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enzo41196

Talked to the service manager and technicians at the BMW where I got my car serviced. They said there aren't any disadvantages to getting the car's break-in service earlier than 1,200 miles IF the time between production and when the car is brought in is long enough for things in the diff to settle in.

That being said, they offered to re-do my diff fluids once I hit 1,200 miles. I plan on doing it just for the peace of mind. For what it's worth, car was produced early in 2018, sat at the dealership until Feb. 2019, and now has around 200 miles.

Sounds like a good dealership then.

03-08-2019, 07:35 PM	#1
Badman327 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	New M2 with old oil Hello everyone. I am a new forum member and the new owner of a 2018 M2. I was sad to move on from my 2012 M3, but so far very happy with my purchase. I purchased my M2 from a dealer in Chicago last month. I live in Austin and the car was shipped to me with 48 miles. A service message was waiting for me the first time I started the car. The service message indicated that the car needed an oil change immediately and the break in service would be required at 1,200 miles. The oil change was needed because the oil was more than 12 months old. I checked the build date on the door sill and the car was built in October 2017. It obviously sat on the dealer lot for a long long time! I brought the vehicle with 200 miles to a local BMW dealer and they told me car needed its 1,200 mile break in service which they performed without charge. They also told me that by performing this break-in service now, the computer would be reset so that the next service would be in 12 months or 10,000 miles. They said I am not able to have BMW perform another oil change (without charge) at 1,200 miles as required by the manual. The Chicago BMW dealer should have shipped this vehicle to me with fresh oil. But that issue aside...shouldn't BMW owe me another oil change at 1,200 miles as the manual suggests? Please let me know your thoughts.
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03-08-2019, 09:41 PM	#3
DanG Major General 10582 Rep 6,917 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [7.68]	What does the M2 say at startup? The differential oil change is done with the 1200 mile service. Have they already done that? If not, you will need the 1200 mile service. __________________ BMWCCA member Puget Sound Chapter
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03-08-2019, 11:44 PM	#4
ForniteFever_01 Private 167 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I had the same exact issue with mine. I had the oil change done and they did the 1,200 mile service as well. They also said that all I had to do from that moment on is follow the recommended service intervals. Car has under 200 miles if that matters.
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03-09-2019, 07:07 AM	#5
M2C89 First Lieutenant 408 Rep 363 Posts Drives: 2020 M2 Competition Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Seems odd to me they would do the break-in service when the car hasn't been broken in. I feel like there's a reason all of those fluids need to be changed out after the first 1,200 miles. Doing it early defeats that purpose. I would've insisted they perform only a routine oil change (paid out of pocket if I had to) and wait to do the break in service at the prescribed mileage. Now that you're in this position, I would probably perform it again and would try to get a discount on it, but ultimately I wouldn't have piece of mind if it wasn't performed so id pay out of pocket if it came to it.
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03-09-2019, 07:55 AM	#6
M Fifty Banned 844 Rep 1,962 Posts Drives: M2 & 330CI Join Date: May 2018 Location: The Interweb iTrader: (0)	Do they get paid by BMW to do the service if it's 'free'?
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03-09-2019, 08:09 AM	#7
N54 Private First Class 104 Rep 183 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Doesn’t the car come with “run in oil” that is different which allows the engine to bed in during run in period? I’d be having a chat with bmw technical to ensure that putting in normal oil early doesn’t cause a problem
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03-09-2019, 10:59 AM	#9
Badman327 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Since the computer maintenance schedule was reset, the car indicates the next service is in 12 months or 10K miles. At 200 miles, the complete break-in service was performed including the engine oil and diff fluid. I have the same concern as expressed above. I suspect most of the break-in happens between 0-200 miles, but things happen within the engine from 200 to 1,200 miles. It might be conservative to change at least the engine oil again at 1,200 miles, but if it is completely unnecessary, I want to avoid the minor cost and inconvenience.
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03-09-2019, 08:54 PM	#13
Pyrat 2 Colonel 1418 Rep 2,560 Posts Drives: Rapidly from A to B Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chicago 'burbs or TN Smokies iTrader: (3) Garage List 2022 Porsche GT4 [9.64] 2018 Porsche GT3 [9.33] 2007 Z4 M Roadster [8.33] 2020 BMW X1 [0.00]	What Chicago dealer sold it to you? Curious.
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03-10-2019, 08:57 PM	#15
Badman327 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	My car was purchased from Zeigler BMW in Chicago. Seems like they were stuck with the car for along time and the demand for a RWD car in February is non-existent in Chicago. M2's have never stayed on the dealer lots very long at any of the big city Texas BMW dealers and discounts from MSRP don't seem to be available until recently.
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03-11-2019, 02:24 AM	#16
akkando Major General 5863 Rep 6,634 Posts Drives: 17 M2 DCT LBB,11 e90 M3 ZCP IB Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	I would get the diff fluids changed at 1200 miles. Might as well do oil as well. You'll forget about the cost later, trust me.
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03-11-2019, 06:28 AM	#17
LuvMyE92 Occasionally frequent poster 3000 Rep 2,744 Posts Drives: CT5V-Blackwing Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: RTP NC, USA iTrader: (0)	Another vote here for a engine oil and differential oil change at 1200 miles, especially if you plan to keep the car for a long time. Cheap insurance. If you do sell the car to an enthusiast (and those are usually the kind of people who buy these things) then they will appreciate your extra attention to detail and proper maintenance. The M cars are the only ones that have this 1200 mile break-in service, so BMW must think that it's important. I know the older cars (80s) all had different "break-in" fluids that were all changed (at the owner's cost) early. I guess people protested the expense (at the cost of a shorter component life) so BMW stopped requiring it. Congrats to the OP for his purchase! Pictures are mandatory. __________________ Current inventory: F22 & G05 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing w/3 pedals Past: E24,E28(3),E34,E36,E37,E38(2),E39(4),E46,E89,E92 (obviously),F01,F06,F10,F30,F87,G12,G30(2),G82(2)
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03-17-2019, 11:11 AM	#18
EuroDude Second Lieutenant 67 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 2017 GT350 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Florida iTrader: (2) Garage List 2017 Ford GT350 [0.00]	I would do the engine oil only, on my dime now (since it's been in there for over a year). At 1,400 or 1,500 I'd have the oil and diff done.
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03-18-2019, 11:25 AM	#20
ForniteFever_01 Private 167 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Talked to the service manager and technicians at the BMW where I got my car serviced. They said there aren't any disadvantages to getting the car's break-in service earlier than 1,200 miles IF the time between production and when the car is brought in is long enough for things in the diff to settle in. That being said, they offered to re-do my diff fluids once I hit 1,200 miles. I plan on doing it just for the peace of mind. For what it's worth, car was produced early in 2018, sat at the dealership until Feb. 2019, and now has around 200 miles.
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